The women of steel comfortably earned their second successive victory in East Kilbride, placing four past a defeated Dundee United side in an assured performance at K-Park on Sunday.
Laura Berry continued her remarkable goalscoring form since returning to the women of steel on her second consecutive loan spell from league leaders Rangers. The 17-year-old broke the deadlock early into the first-half with a precise finish into the top-left corner before United promptly equalised with a sharp counter-attack.
Louisa Boyes restored Motherwell’s advantage moments later, forcing the ball over the line from close-range before Chelsie Watson ensured the women of steel headed into the half-time break with a two-goal cushion after powering home Bailley Collins’ floated free-kick.
Head Coach Paul Brownlie reshaped his starting XI from last weekend’s narrow defeat to league leaders Rangers, with Scotland internationalists Sienna McGoldrick, Amy Sharkey and Sophia Black all returning to the matchday squad alongside Rangers loanees Laura Berry and Mason Blyth-Clark.
Emily Mutch retained her place in the Motherwell goal, lining-up behind the back-four of skipper Gill Inglis, Jenna Penman, Chelsie Watson and Rachel Todd. Fellow Scotland youth internationals Berry and Sharkey partnered each other in the final third, with Sarah Gibb, Laura McCartney and Louisa Boyes completing the midfield trio.
The women of steel started brightly, immediately imposing their gameplay onto the fragmented visiting backline, and the hosts instantly found the breakthrough. Berry latched onto Gill Inglis’ enticing through ball before shifting the ball onto her stronger right-foot and dispatching an unstoppable finish into the top-left corner.
The hosts advantage failed to hold, as United quickly restored their foothold in the game. Catching Motherwell on the counter-attack, Ellie Cowie’s pinpoint cross-field pass accurately found teammate Ashley Robertson, who skilfully wrong-footed Emily Mutch with a looping finish on the half-volley.
Motherwell stuck to their gameplan, regrouped and soon found themselves ahead for the second-time. the hosts forced the United backline deep into their own penalty area, and despite numerous attempts to clear their lines, the ball eventually fell kindly to the feet of Boyes, who narrowly forced the ball over the line from a few yards out.
Five minutes later, Motherwell had their third of the afternoon. Collins’ floated free-kick from the left sailed invitingly into the path of Watson, who powered a headed effort down into the ground that fortunately ricocheted off one of the United backline before nestling comfortably into the back of the net.
Heading into the second-half, Motherwell struggled to find their assurance in-front of goal, as a variety of goalscoring opportunities evaded the women of steel. Collins’ came closest with a dangerous strike from distance that left Beth Rennie scrambling in the visiting goal.
Paul Brownlie’s side secured a fourth win the latter stages of the game, with Berry skilfully working her way through several white and tangerine jerseys before drilling a composed finish into the bottom-left corner for her seventh goal since making the switch back to ML1 in the summer.
Motherwell move back into the final top-six place, one point clear of nearest rivals Partick Thistle, who sit seventh in the SWPL league table.
